CVE-2024-51180 identifies a reflected Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the PHPGurukul IFSC Code Finder Project version 1.0. The vulnerability resides in the /ifscfinder/index.php script, specifically in the 'searchifsccode' GET or POST parameter, which fails to properly sanitize user input before reflecting it back in the web page response. This allows an attacker to craft a malicious URL containing executable JavaScript code that, when clicked by a victim, executes in the victim's browser under the domain of the vulnerable application. The reflected XSS can be exploited remotely without authentication, though it requires user interaction to trigger. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L) indicates network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, scope changed, high confidentiality impact, low integrity impact, and low availability impact. The scope change means the vulnerability affects resources beyond the vulnerable component, potentially impacting the user's session or data. While no public exploits are currently known, the vulnerability is critical enough to warrant immediate attention. The root cause is improper input validation and output encoding, a classic CWE-79 issue. The affected software is an open-source project used for finding Indian Financial System Codes (IFSC), which may be deployed by financial institutions, developers, or websites providing banking information. The lack of available patches means organizations must implement mitigations or updates when available.

The primary impact of this vulnerability is on the confidentiality of users interacting with the vulnerable application, as attackers can steal session cookies, credentials, or other sensitive data via malicious scripts. The integrity impact is limited but could allow attackers to manipulate displayed content or perform actions on behalf of users in some cases. Availability impact is low but could be exploited to cause minor disruptions or browser crashes. Organizations running the PHPGurukul IFSC Code Finder Project v1.0 risk reputational damage, user trust loss, and potential regulatory consequences if user data is compromised. Since the vulnerability requires user interaction, phishing campaigns could leverage this flaw to increase success rates. The scope change in the CVSS vector indicates that the attack can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component, potentially compromising user sessions across the application. Financial institutions, fintech companies, and websites providing banking information that rely on this software are at risk. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests the window for proactive mitigation is still open, but the high CVSS score demands urgent action.

1. Implement strict input validation on the 'searchifsccode' parameter to allow only expected characters (e.g., alphanumeric and specific symbols) and reject or sanitize all others. 2. Apply proper output encoding/escaping on all reflected user inputs before rendering them in HTML contexts to prevent script execution. 3. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of untrusted scripts and reduce the impact of potential XSS attacks. 4. Educate users and administrators about the risks of clicking untrusted links and encourage cautious behavior with URLs received via email or messaging. 5. Monitor web application logs for suspicious requests containing script payloads targeting the vulnerable parameter. 6. If possible, upgrade to a patched version of the software once available or consider alternative solutions with better security practices. 7. Use web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block reflected XSS payloads targeting this parameter. 8. Conduct regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on input handling and output encoding to prevent similar vulnerabilities.